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The people of Alotau in Milne Bay will soon have a new school at Cape Vogel,

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Treasury Charles Abel said there was so much to be done and so much had already been achieved including the opening of the James Charmers Memorial High School in Suau.

He added that they have secured the funding and have begun the process of building the school.

Abel said beside Cape Vogel High School, there were plans for another two- at Maramatana and Daga.

“The challenges are when we take on too many things we may not complete the project properly,” said Abel.

“There’s no doubt that the James Chalmers Memorial High School needs a science laboratory and a library.”

“We have built a road for Suau, a Digicel tower, an ambulance and we have funded the elementary and primary school there too.” he said.

The development now enables the people of Suau to drive to Faiv Bay for the first time, and also having access to communication and other transport services.

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop plans to transform Port Moresby over the next five years into a “21st century city”.

“We cannot be complacent anymore. We cannot continue to give excuses or be mediocre about the quality of life and standard of living in our city, the status of infrastructure and so on.

“We’ve got to do a quantum leap – not just for the city but for the rest of the nation. The rest of the nation needs a major inspiration. They need to believe that a better future is possible. We’ve given them that possibility over the last nine to 10 years.

“We can absolutely do more and even better. That’s what I would like to see in the next five years. I want us to bring our city into the 21st Century. “We can do it. There’s no reason why we can’t do it. We have all the possibilities with us now. We have the experience.”
He was sworn as governor yesterday by Magistrate Tracy Ganaii.
The other NCD MPs are expected to be sworn in today.
Parkop said there were still some hurdles to overcome.
“There are some things that we must have zero-tolerance for,” he said.

The Minister for Works and Implementation has blasted the Member for Kandep for misleading the people of his district with false claims on road projects.

Hon. Francis Awesa, MP, said the Opposition Leader should not play politics with road infrastructure, as it is the O’Neill Government that has delivered more and better roads than any Government in the past, including in the Kandep District.

“Regardless of the Member’s false and hollow claims, there is a substantial National Government road sealing program underway in Kandep, as there is around the nation.

“Our Government has been undertaking one of the most intensive road building and rehabilitations programs in our history.

“In Kandep alone, this includes the Upgrading and sealing of the Mendi-Kandep which was completed in 2015 and Laiagam to Pogera Road section being upgraded of 110km under the Asian Development Bank Tranche 1 to base level at the cost of K330m in 2015. We just completed the final 11.2km section in the from Niung junction to Pangu at K21.9million of the Liagam-Kandep road section.

“At the same time the Wasa bridge Mr. Polye talks about, will not go ahead because it is a bridge to nowhere through two hundred meters of thick swamp.

“As a former Works Minister and engineer, I would expect Mr. Polye to have a better understanding of the physics of building in swampland.

“K17M already been spent on feasibility and analysis for this bridge at Mr. Polye’s request. This is now wasted money, and I call on Mr. Polye to face reality with regards to this project.”

“I also do not know where the Member is getting his figure of K40 for the rehabilitation of Laiagam-Kandep Road. There was nothing on the budget for this year’s budget.

“This amount has never been allocated, so I urge Mr. Polye to go and check his facts.

“Recently Mr. Polye pleaded with his people, blaming the national Government, and claiming decisions made in road projects in Kandep were delivered by this government.

“His decisions that led to attempts to build an unfeasible swamp bridge are examples of his failed leadership and a total let down to the people of Kandep.

“His misleading the people of Kandep over infrastructure projects he claimed to be delivered under his leadership.

“Lets just all get on with the job of governing and delivering services and infrastructure for our people, and put the petty politics aside.

“The National Election is only a few short months away, and Mr. Polye will have ample time for campaigning when this campaign period actually begins.”

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Good news for those in Milne Bay. The road connecting the Rabaraba coast to the rest of the Province has finally broken through. This has been an ongoing and challenging project undertaken by Minister Charles Abel several years ago.

The project had faced many large issues during its lifetime, including the very difficult terrain and months of terrible weather. Minister Abel explained to a member of our team that this is one of the most important developments he could bring to Milne Bay.

He took to Facebook to say, “Don’t know whether to laugh or cry.. when I think of the suffering of my people of Dawawa, Kakabai, Kanasi… Umanakaina, daga..”

He has previously made promises directly to those living in the remote villages this road will service, that he will personally ensure the project was completed in his term. The road will create massive new economic opportunities, as well as connecting people to a far higher standard of education and healthcare.

A commenter by the name of Benedict Jainona shared his thanks on the Minister’s post, “I can imagine the joy for many on the north coast, just like the feeling we had when Fife Bay was opened up a year ago. You have done it again member, for Rabaraba. Well done you know it that in doing so you have created opportunities for thousands. Many good stories will definitely follow as thousands take advantage of the road infrastructure you are putting in place now. The challenge now and into the future would be to maintain and upgrade these roads to make them become all weather roads

Last year Abel invited a member of the Breaking News team to visit Milne Bay with him. During this trip we were meant to accompany him in the first trip to Rabaraba using the road but several weeks of bad weather set the project back many months. It is fantastic to see that persistence saw this project through to completion.

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The country’s roads have burdened the Government with two major challenges – adequate funding and effective road management.

Works Secretary David Wereh, whilst giving a rundown on the effects of climate change on Markham roads, said sufficient resources are needed to build highways that can withstand modern traffic demands.

“The change in river and flow patterns has been very unpredictable,” Wereh said.

“Markham has become a major flood plain and it is really threatening road sections. Culverts are giving way and these problems are starting way up and flooding the entire valley down there.

“So this section of the road goes through the wet terrain. It’s giving us a major challenge, the agency looking after the up keeping of these roads,” he said.

“We are working overnight. Our guys are working at restoring some of these sections. Our boys were able to respond, making sure there is accessibility at all times. Our response time limit is 48-hours and let me say that record stands. Delay on highways and disasters have not been longer than 48-hours and we have responded always in 48 hours.

“In very challenging times like Markham, we are working day and night in order to have people to continue to access our main highways.

There are no quick fix solutions,” he added.

He said there were two issues faced today.

“Adequate funding as well as effective road management is key.

“Some sections of the highway need to be rebuilt. Most sections of the highway have never been designed to withstand impacts of climatic, flooding and major landslide issues we are facing today. The frequency and levels of water have risen, that’s the truth. The impacts of climate change are big and this is the new challenge the Government and Department of Works is faced with,” he said.

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A new funding arrangement with ADB will upgrade the Highlands Highway to international standards

THE Highlands Highway will be upgraded to international standard with funding from the Asian Development Bank.

The current woes experienced by the Highway as a result of extreme weather and its deteriorating condition will be solved once and for all.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announced this yesterday saying the Government and the ADB were nearing completion of the funding arrangement which will fix the highway once and for all in this long term permanent solution.

The announcement was also made on the eve of ADB’s 50th anniversary of operation.

Although no figure was announced, it is believed it will be in the billions under which the upgrading including other major national highways will also be funded.

Mr O’Neill this week met with the ADB’s Executive Director for Papua New Guinea Won-Mok Choi in Port Moresby to discuss the arrangement. He said the executive director will finalise talks with the government.

“We are upgrading the Highlands Highway to international standard, and we are implementing strategies to deal with extreme weather that causes damage.

“Work is already scheduled to begin on crucial parts of the Highlands Highway in the coming weeks, and this will further contribute to long-term positive outcomes for the highway.”

“There is much more that we can do to strengthen our national infrastructure, particular our national highways.

“Following decades of neglect, we are bringing our road network back to life,” Mr O’Neill said.

He said the vital road networks had to be restored and upgraded in order for people to get their good to market, enable travel to work, studies and family re-unions.

He said damaged roads will also be upgraded and new ones built where there were none.

“The Highlands Highway is an important component in our national road network, considering the millions of people it services, but so too are other national highways of vital significance.

“We will continue to rebuild damaged roads, and build new roads where they have not existed before.

“Our country is changing and the number of roads that are appearing, and the places that are being connected, continues to expand,” Mr O’Neill said.

He expressed his gratitude to Mr Choi for ADB’s work in Papua New Guinea and throughout the region.

“I would like to thank the ADB for its efforts to date to help us to build the road network infrastructure that this country needs for today and into the future.

“In my discussion with Mr Choi, it is clear that the ADB is interested in expanding its engagement in Papua New Guinea.

“Potential new projects are now being discussed further with the Minister for Works Francis Awesa and further announcements will be made at the appropriate time.

“As the ADB celebrates its 50th year of operation, I expect that its partnership with Papua New Guinea, and other Pacific nations, will continue to strengthen long into the future,” Mr O’Neill said.

MAPAI Transport Limited has indicated that the Government and the laws are synonymous to the existence of the Highlands Highway, but it’s the implementing and enforcing of stringent regulations that has been missing.

Mr Luke said though he welcomed the call by the PM that strict laws will be brought into force to prevent people from blocking the highways, he also (Luke) questioned when would be the right time to implement these measures.

Mr Luke said as a business, they have no issue with paying compensation, but the Government needs to show when is the right time for them to respond to disasters along the national highways.

He said if the Government can respond on time and tell the trucking companies or other businesses utilising the highway as to what is their plans are, then the businesses will not be forced to pay landowners to remove blockages.

He added that as a business, and the highway being their main lifeline, being inoperable after almost a week is non-economical.

He said there must be some level of guarantee to businesses by the Government, otherwise businesses will continue to pay tolls along various sections of the highway that has been destroyed by effects of climate change and the weather.

He said as a company, they are forced to do it (compensate) as the Government has failed and businesses are left to fend for themselves along the highway, including taking the necessary security measures, given that the expected security interventions from the Government has been delayed.